Qur'an Teacher, Preacher Arrested in UK Terror Bust...

A RELIGIOUS leader is among five men arrested on suspicion of terrorism. The Muslim preacher and three others were arrested in raids across Greater Manchester .

The man, who has not been named, teaches the Koran at a number of mosques across the region. The 62-year-old was arrested at his home on Willows Lane, Deane, Bolton.

"I'm surprised. He carries out spiritual sessions twice-a-week. He is very spiritual," said one source within the Muslim community.

Investigation It is understood this morning's raids were part of an investigation into terror training camps in Afghanistan which may have led to a terror plot overseas.

Police sources have stressed the threat was not 'imminent' nor aimed at the UK. The Counter Terrorism Unit of Greater Manchester Police swooped on the addresses from around 4am.

The raids were culmination of a year-long investigation into the recruitment here of would-be terrorists for training in Afghanistan.

The five men have been arrested on suspicion of terrorism and also inciting an act of terrorism overseas. First, police swooped on three addresses in Manchester and one in Bolton at around 4am.

Another man, 27, was arrested in a later raid in Rydal Walk, Stalybridge. Police have said more arrests could follow.

Around 40 unarmed officers were involved in the raids and they are now searching the properties. The raids took place at a mobile phone shop and the flat above on Stockport Road, Levenshulme.

No-one was arrested at these properties. Police arrested a 52-year-old man at a house on Victoria Terrace, Longsight, and a 21-year-old man at a property on Bowdon Avenue, Fallowfield.

Later police arrested a 26-year-old man at a hotel near Heathrow Airport. Scene of crime officers were today continuing to search the Greater Manchester properties.

Police are looking for computers, laptops and computers. A neighbour on Bowdon Avenue, Fallowfield, said: "The family have been here for about 20 years. There are eight children.Hectic

"I got up at up at six o'clock this morning, looked out of my window and saw about 12 to 16 police officers coming out of the house. The scene was hectic. I shouted at my husband to come and look because something was going on. I thought it must have been serious because the amount of police that were there.

"This is a quiet street. It's probably one of the most quiet in Fallowfield so it's really shocking that something like this would happen here. "They are a quiet family. They keep themselves to themselves." A neighbour in Victoria Terrace, Longsight, said a man lived in the neat terraced house which was raided with his wife, two daughters and a son. He said: "They have lived there for about five years and seemed okay to me.

They were always quiet and nice so this has come as a big surprise. I am absolutely gob smacked." Solicitor Shabnam Yunis, 26, from Mustafa Solicitors, works a few doors away from Efones, on Stockport Road, Longsight, which was raided along with the flat above, said: "The two lads who own the shop are really decent friendly lads. I am really shocked.

You just don't expect anything like this going on. It is normally a quiet and respectable area."Concern Assistant Chief Constable Dave Thompson said: "Protecting people both at home and abroad is our primary concern which is why we take such steps.

"This is a complex and ongoing investigation, which has now reached the point where it was necessary to make arrests and speak to a number of people. "There was no direct threat against Greater Manchester and the arrests are the latest stage of a thorough investigation. We have been liaising with local people to provide reassurance about what has happened and will continue to keep a high profile presence in affected areas.

"Officers will also be distributing letters around the areas concerned and speaking to residents to let people know what has happened and to ask them to continue to work with us in the coming days. "The community will be concerned that these arrests caused disruption and distress to people living there.

There is no suggestion that those other people were involved in any offences and our priority is to look after these people."

So much "misunderstanding" of Islam's purportedly peaceful and tolerant message: Funny how that keeps happening.